Union University News

Campbell, Ross win TSWA awards

Mark Campbell was named the Tennessee Sports Writers Association Coach of the Year. (Photo by Morris Abernathy)

JACKSON, Tenn. – May 1, 2012 – Union University women’s basketball coach Mark Campbell was selected as the Tennessee Sports Writers Association Coach of the Year, while senior Lavanda Ross was picked as the TSWA Women’s College Basketball Player of the Year in awards announced April 27.

These awards are given annually and are based on votes by sports writers from across Tennessee. This marks the fourth straight TSWA Coach of the Year award for Campbell and fifth overall (2005, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012). Ross earns the first TSWA Player of the Year award for Union.

Campbell led the Lady Bulldogs to an NAIA national runner-up finish in the 2011-2012 season, with Union making a national title game appearance for the fourth straight year. Campbell won national titles with the team in 2005, 2006, 2009 and 2010.

This season Union finished 35-3 and won the TranSouth Athletic Conference regular season and tournament championship. Over the past two seasons, Union has a combined 70-5 record and is 178-9 over the past five seasons.

For Ross, a 5-foot-8 senior guard from Jackson, the TSWA award is another in her collection. She previously was named the NAIA Player of the Year.

Ross was named to an All-American team in all four seasons at Union. This year she averaged 18.2 points, 6.2 rebounds and 2.5 steals per game. Ross finished her career with more than 2,000 points.